By Proceedings at Kawempe Grade One Court came to a standstill on Monday after Magistrate Damalie Agumasiimwe walked out mid-session, following a heated confrontation between the Chief State Attorney and defence lawyers representing more than 30 National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters.
The accused, among them MPs Muwadda Nkunyingi and Derrick Nyeko, are facing charges of public nuisance and destruction of property. But the trial quickly veered off course when Chief State Attorney Sharon Nambuya clashed with defence counsel Samuel Muyizzi and his team, demanding proof of their practising certificates in what the lawyers described as an unnecessary provocation.
Latest
Fire Guts Workshop in Ntinda, Five Vehicles Destroyed
NUP Deputy Spokesperson Abducted Outside Court as Fears of Enforced Disappearances Resurface
European leaders to visit US to discuss war in Ukraine, Trump says
Luuka PDM SACCO Leaders Remanded Over Extortion of Beneficiaries
MoLG, NPA Rally Physical Planners to Enforce New Development Guidelines
Defence lawyers countered by questioning Nambuya’s conduct and authority, with one of them openly casting doubt on whether she was indeed a Chief State Attorney. The exchanges, marked by repeated interruptions and raised voices, unsettled the packed courtroom.
Magistrate Agumasiimwe, visibly frustrated, intervened several times urging decorum. At one point she remarked:
“I am not going to conduct a market when I am supposed to be in a courtroom. If you are ready to proceed professionally, I will be available. But if you continue like this before the general public, I am doing nothing here.”
Shortly after, the magistrate walked out, leaving both prosecution and defence stunned.
The dramatic standoff underscored simmering tensions surrounding the high-profile case, which has drawn large crowds of NUP supporters since it began. Security was tight around Kawempe Court, with plainclothes operatives and uniformed officers deployed at the premises.
The walkout left the day’s proceedings in limbo, with court officials indicating that the matter would resume once order and professional conduct were assured.
The trial comes amid wider opposition complaints of judicial harassment, with NUP leaders alleging that their supporters face politically motivated charges and intimidation ahead of the 2026 elections.
